Department of Agriculture Secretary, William Dar, and Negros Occidental Governor Bong Lacson led the turn over of agricultural machineries and farm implements to Negrense farmers amounting to a total of P450 Million, in an activity held at the Panaad Covered Court in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City, yesterday.
The activity was attended by farmers cooperatives, associations and organizations in the province, mayors and other local officials.Thousands of Negrense farmers and fishers also received cash and food subsidies under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act response of the national government to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program aims to assist farmers and fishers affected by the pandemic, which forms part of the SAP that the national government is providing to the affected farmers.
Gov. Lacson said that developing agriculture and uplifting the lives of farmers are among the main thrusts of his administration.“The launching of the cash and food assistance to our farmers and fisherfolks, the distribution of the RCEF Mechanization and other interventions of the Department of Agriculture will provide the needed boost to improve production, optimize the income capacity, and mitigate the debilitating effects of the pandemic to the agricultural sector,” he said.
He also said that Negros Occidental and Western Visayas take encouragement in the fact that they remain to be among the top Palay producers in the country and the production even increased in the first half of the year.
The Rice Achievers Awardees were also recognized at the program.Also present in the activity were Negros Occ. Board Members Manuel Frederick Ko, Andrew Montelibano, and Agustin Ernesto Bascon, Department of Agriculture Regional VI Director Remelyn Recoter and Negros Occidental Provincial Agriculturist, Atty. Japhet Masculino, among others.
